The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-09-07
A RAILROAD INCIDENT.
Experience ofa Young Lady Who Know
How to Help Herself.


Experience ofa Young Lady Who Know
How to Help Herself.
1t was the first time she had eve,
travelled alone, and all the family cam,
down to the station to see her off.
"Now, Pheeb," said her father, as h,
helped her on, 'don't let any of then
young fellers come foolin' roun'; mind
what me an your mother has allus
told you, an don't have nothin' to say
to strangers. y"
Il won't, father" chirruped Phoebe
"Where's the box with my best hat
And the bag with the dried raspberrie.
for Jim's wifep And the kitten? Oh,
where's the poor little cat?''
Here she be-" said the mother
showing up with the rest of Phebe's
belongings; "and here's the six pairs
OF stockings I knit Reuben, and the
yarn towels, and the
"All aboardr' yelled the conductor
Goodbye, Phoebe! Don't forget the
new cheese in the hand basket! Tel
Jim's wife to send me the raceet for
dyeing cotton yarn primrose cast.
Take care of Kitty, an be sure an =,
Goodbye, Phecb! Don't make no
'quaintances with ennybody. AS your
gram father used to say, the Lord
helps them as helps themselves ."
There was lot of them brothers,
sisters and cousins-who watched us
until the train and "Pheeb' were out
of sight. Then the young traveller
settled down to business. And we all
watched her, for she was very pretty
girl.
First, she heaped all her things in the
seat facing her. Then she concluded
to put some of them in the bracket
above.
"Allow me-" said the spruce travel.
ing man with MASKING smile.
THANK you," said Miss Phoebe,
coolly, "it's kind of inconvenient 60
ing anywhere alone"
Going far?" asked the travelling
man as he sat down, and we all
glanced at him with envy.
''Only to visit my brother Jim in
Newton Center. l get there after
dark, though, and am awfully afraid
they won't meet me-.
'.I'm going that way myself" haz-
arded the untruthful travelling man.
why, how nice! l wouldn't be a
bit afraid of you"
"Mew! new! newt came from a
remote corner of the car. Miss Phoebe
made dive for her kittens basket.
''Oh, won't somebody catch the kit
ty for me? Oh, dear, it will. be lost,
and it's a real Maltese! Oh. where 9
the conductor? Won't somebody
please ring for him?''
We all started to hunt the wicked
kitten, while its excited mistress pulled
the bell-cord and stopped the train.
When peace was restored, and four
travelling men had returned the kitten
to its owner, the conductor seated
himself by Miss Phoebe to explain that
a passenger must never under any Cir
cumstances touch the bell-cord.
Meanwhile all the onerous duties of
answering questions and reassuring
frightened old women devolved on the
brakeman.
Then the boy with peanuts came in
and she shared him into getting some
milk for kitty from the restaurant car.
The book fiend dropped an armful of
burning novels into the seat at last left
vacant by the conductor.
.Have you How He Won Her, or
Love on Rail-car?'" she asked,
sweetly.
He sat down to explain that he was
just out Of that, but had Divorced at
Sight, or "a Romance of Chicago"
Then the only man in the car who
had not been down on his knees. cold,
naughty, soulless man, with q cynical
sheer opened his valise and handed
her ''How He Won Her,"
When the train reached Newton
Center the young lady left it, followed
by a meek and submissive crowd. The
conductor carried the cat. The brake
man had the sachel. The rest of her
luggage was apportioned to the male
each of whom received a
sweet smile, and a cordial goodbye
as Brother Jim hove in sight, to claim
his fair relative. AS we scrambled
back to our train we heard Jim ask:
How in the world Pheeb did you get
along with all those traps?"
And her musical laugh. as she an
swered:
"Oh, you know, jim, father brought
us up to help ourselves. Detroit
Free Press.
Sufficiently Protected.